The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Science
Foundation (NSF) announce their intent to continue to support
an extramural grants program in fundamental environmental research
in Fiscal Year (FY) 1999. This EPA/NSF competition has been developed
based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the agencies which
establishes a partnership emphasizing the support and merit review
of fundamental environmental research. This is the fifth year
of the joint awards competition. Information on awards made in
the FY 1995 through FY 1998 competitions may also be found on
the Internet through: http://www.nsf.gov

The four research areas targeted this year are:

Water and Watersheds

Technology for a Sustainable Environment

Decision-making and Valuation for Environmental Policy

Environmental Statistics

This announcement solicits applications for Environmental Statistics.
Awards made through this competition are dependent upon responsiveness
of the proposals to the announcement, the quality of the proposed
research, and the availability of funds. EPA and NSF each anticipate
awarding approximately $1 million ($2 million total for the two
agencies) for Environmental Statistics, with a projected award
range from $60,000 to $150,000 per award per year, and an approximate
duration of 2 to 3 years. Subject to the availability of funds,
EPA and NSF plan to continue this program through FY 2000.

Proposals in response to this announcement must be received
by March 10, 1999. It is anticipated that awards will be made
by Fall 1999. Awards resulting from this competition may be made
by either EPA or NSF, at the option of the agencies, not the grantee.

Further information, if needed, may be obtained from the EPA
and NSF officials indicated below. E-mail inquiries are preferred.

The Environmental Statistics competition seeks to increase understanding
of the physical and human dimensions of environmental policies and
issues by supporting the development of innovative statistical methods
and models for environmental research. Although primarily geared
to the statistical sciences, this competition invites proposals
from qualified researchers across the statistical, social, behavioral,
and physical sciences. Because problems in environmental research
are complex and often require a deep understanding of both the substantive
issues and possible statistical approaches, multidisciplinary collaborations
involving statisticians and researchers from the social, behavioral,
and physical sciences are especially welcome.

In FY 1998, the Environmental Statistics competition invited proposals
on research in the following areas: (1) Statistical models and methods
for environmental social science research; (2) Physical environmental
statistics research; and (3) Research which either combines or is
fundamental to both items (1) and (2). Specific topics supported
from that competition include Bayesian space-time models, low stream
flow estimation models, models for drinking water supplies, methods
for analyzing global and regional environmental data, and statistical
methods applicable for environmental justice issues.

In FY 1999, the Environmental Statistics competition invites proposals
in the following areas: (1) Statistical models and methods for environmental
social science research; (2) Environmental statistics research to
improverisk assessment; and (3) Physical environmental statistics
research. Proposals are particularly welcome that further the development
of statistical methods for environmental social science research,
including research in the area of risk assessment.

2.2 Statistical Models And Methods For Environmental Social
Science Research

Environmental social science research seeks to increase our understanding
of the social and behavioral processes that define the complex interactions
between human and physical systems. Research is sought on statistical
models and/or methods that illuminate how humans impact the environment,
how the environment affects human activities, and the complex dynamics
of human and physical systems. Environmental social science research
covers a range of topics, including but not limited to:

adaptation and mitigation strategies;

economic issues related to the environment;

the measurement of attitudes toward the environment;

land use and land cover issues, including resource use and management;

collective action issues and the role of institutions;

issues of environmental justice.

This announcement invites proposals that advance the methodological
foundation for understanding these and other issues in environmental
social science research. Potential methodological topics include
parametric and semiparametric methods, methods for detecting structural
change, methods for handling data at different scales, and strategies
for resolving conflicting and multiple priorities and goals. Proposals
submitted under this heading should include clear applications to
environmental social sciences questions.

2.3 Environmental Statistics Research To Improve Risk Assessment

The assessment of environmental risks to humans and ecosystems
is an inherently uncertain activity. Every step from hazard identification
through risk characterization calls upon analysts to make sense
of uncertain and variable information. Ultimately, the challenge
of interpretation falls to the decision makers for whom the assessments
are performed. Because risk assessment is a relatively young application
of statistical tools and scientific principles, it is critical that
methodologies be developed for addressing, quantifying, and presenting
the uncertainty and variability in the models, the model inputs,
and the outputs upon which the field relies.

Examples of such research include, but are not limited to: methods
for representing and communicating the limits and uncertainty of
environmental data; approaches for characterizing and reducing uncertainty
in environmental exposure and risk assessment; probabilistic methods
for assessing multi-pathway exposures; methods for linking information
about contaminant source, transport, human and ecosystem interactions
and adverse effects; methods for extrapolating small data sets to
estimate population level exposure and effects; and methods to expand
the use of epidemiological data in risk assessment.

2.4 Physical Environmental Statistics Research

Research on the physical environment is important for understanding
and responding to threats such as air and water pollution, ozone
depletion, and hazardous waste disposal. While we have a good understanding
of many of the components that make up the physical environment,
we have much less knowledge about the interactions between components.
Such an understanding is imperative for finding acceptable responses
to threats to the environment. Recognizing and responding to threats
to the environment requires the use of statistics, from sampling
and data collection to modeling and analysis. This announcement
invites proposals for statistical research that improves the methodology
or theory of statistics relevant to environmental research. Examples
of such research include, but are not limited to, the design, evaluation,
and placement of environmental monitoring networks; research on
quality assurance methods for environmental and ecological data
and data products; accounting for meteorological and co-pollutant
effects on estimation of status and trends in air toxins; spatial
sampling designs for hazardous waste site characterization; statistical
environmental epidemiology and toxicology; and development and evaluation
of ecological indicators and indexes, including issues of aggregation
and scale.

3.0 ELIGIBILITY

Academic and not-for-profit institutions located in the U.S., and
State or local governments are eligible. Profit-making firms and
federal agencies are not eligible to apply to this program. However,
personnel in profit-making firms may participate as non-funded co-investigators
or through sub-contracts with the awardee institution.

Federal employees may cooperate or collaborate with eligible applicants
within the limits imposed by applicable legislation and regulations.
However, federal agencies, national laboratories funded by federal
agencies (FFRDCs), and federal employees are not eligible to submit
applications to this program and may not serve in a principal leadership
role on a grant. Under exceptional circumstances the principal investigator's
institution may subcontract to a federal agency or FFRDC to purchase
unique supplies or services unavailable in the private sector. Examples
are purchase of satellite data, census data tapes, chemical reference
standards, unique analyses or instrumentation not available elsewhere,
etc. A written justification for such federal involvement must be
included in the application, along with an assurance from the federal
agency which commits to supply the specified service. Federal employees
may not receive salaries or in other ways augment their agency's
appropriations through grants made by this program. Potential applicants
who are uncertain of their eligibility should contact Dr. Robert
E. Menzer (listed in Section 1.0).

EPA and NSF welcome applications on behalf of all qualified scientists,
engineers, and other professionals and strongly encourage women,
members of underrepresented groups, and persons with disabilities
to compete fully in any of the programs described in this announcement.

In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and EPA and
NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national
origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied
the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program
or activity receiving financial assistance from the Environmental
Protection Agency or the National Science Foundation.

4.0 INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION SUBMISSION

4.1 Sorting Codes

In order to facilitate proper assignment and review of applications,
each applicant must identify the topic area in which the
application is to be considered. It is the responsibility of the
applicant to identify correctly the proper sorting code. Failure
to do so may result in delay or an improper review assignment. The
Sorting Codes correspond to the topic areas within the announcement
and are shown below:

Applications to the Social Sciences Code:Method,
Measure and Stats

Risk Assessment Code:Statistics

Physical Environmental Statistics Research Code:Statistics

The Sorting Code must be placed at the top of the proposal cover
sheet (NSF Form 1207) in the section titled "For Consideration
by NSF Organizational Unit." EPA or NSF may reassign proposals
to other or multiple sorting categories to ensure optimal review
of proposals.

4.2 The Application

Proposals submitted to the Environmental Statistics competition
must conform to NSF proposal submission requirements. The
NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG, NSF 99-2 or current issuance) provides
detailed proposal preparation guidance. All proposals should be
prepared in accordance with the GPG, except as modified in this
announcement. (Especially, see section 4.3 below.) All forms needed
to apply are available in the GPG and in the Proposal Forms Kit.
The GPG and Forms Kit are available electronically through the NSF
Home Page at http://www.nsf.gov.
Paper copies can be obtained from the NSF Publications Clearinghouse,
301-947-2722 or by e-mail from pubs@nsf.gov.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their proposals for
full electronic submission using the FastLane system. Proposals
may also be prepared for paper-copy submission; in that case, the
cover sheet and project summary must be submitted through FastLane.
For further information, see 4.5 How to Apply and Appendix 1 below.

To fulfill the requirements of section 4.3 below, applicants submitting
through FastLane should place these additional pages, clearly labeled,
at the end of the Project Description section. Paper-copy submissions
should place these pages, clearly labeled, in Section I, Special
Information and Supplementary Documentation, as identified in the
GPG. Other than these additional pages, the 15 page limit on the
Project Description section is in effect.

It is important that the application contain all the information
requested in the formats described. If it does not, the application
may be eliminated from review on administrative grounds. Once an
applicant is chosen for award (i.e., after external peer review
and internal programmatic review), EPA or NSF program officers may
request additional documentation and forms.

4.3 Additional Pages  Project Description

If the project will produce data and information of value to the
broader research community, the applicant should also include a
discussion titled "Data and Information Availability."
This discussion, not to exceed two additional pages, should describe
the data and information products, the management plans for their
validation, quality control, archiving, costs for these activities,
and whether and under what conditions the data will be made available
to interested parties. For awards that involve environmentally related
measurements or data generation, these two pages should describe
a quality system that complies with the requirements of ANSI/ASQC
E4, "Specifications and Guidelines for Quality Systems for
Environmental Data Collection and Environmental Technology Programs."
ANSI/ASQC E4 is available for purchase from the American Society
for Quality Control, phone 1-800-248-1946, item T55. Only in exceptional
circumstances should it be necessary to consult this document. Proposals
involving interviews or surveys should include up to three additional
pages with information about these instruments, titled "Protocols."

These additional pages do not count against the 15-page limit NSF
has established for the Project Description section of proposals.

4.4 Additional Budgetary Guidance

Subcontracts for research to be conducted under the grant which
exceed 40% of the total direct cost of the grant for each year in
which the subcontract is awarded must be especially well justified.

Researchers may be invited to participate in an annual All-Investigators
Meeting with EPA and NSF scientists and other grantees to report
on research activities and to discuss areas of mutual interest.
Budget requests should include travel funds to accommodate that
eventuality.

5. How to Apply

A. Proposal Closing Dates

For paper submission of the proposals, ten copies of the proposal
MUST be received by 5:00PM, ET, March 10, 1999. Copies of the
proposal must be made and submitted to NSF according to the normal
procedures for paper proposals identified in the GPG. The cover
sheet and projects summary are still REQUIRED to be submitted
using FastLane. (See Appendix 1 for additional information.)

For electronic submission of proposals, the proposal MUST
be submitted by 5:00 PM, local time, March 10, 1999. Copies of
the signed proposal cover sheet must be submitted in accordance
with the instructions identified below.

Submission of Signed Cover Sheets. For proposals submitted
electronically via the NSF FastLane Project, the signed proposal
Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207) should be forwarded to the following
address and received by NSF by March 17, 1999:

Informal, incomplete, or unsigned proposals will not be considered.
A proposal may not be processed until the complete proposal (including
signed Cover Sheet) has been received by NSF.

B. FastLane Submission

The NSF FastLane system is available for electronic preparation
and submission of a proposal through the Web at the FastLane Web
site at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov.
The Sponsored Research Office (SRO or equivalent) must provide a
FastLane Personal Identification Number (PIN) to each Principal
Investigator (PI) to gain access to the FastLane "Proposal
Preparation" application. PIs that have not submitted a proposal
to NSF in the past must contact their SRO to be added to the NSF
PI database. This should be done as soon as the decision to prepare
a proposal is made.

In order to use NSF FastLane to prepare and submit a proposal,
the following is required:

Browser (must support multiple buttons and file upload)

Netscape 2.0 or greater

Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or greater

PDF Reader (needed to view/print forms)

Adobe Reader 3.0 or greater

PDF Generator (needed to create project description)

Adobe Acrobat 3.01 or greater

Aladdin Ghostcriipt 5.10 or greater

A list of registered institutions and the FastLane registration
form are located on the FastLane Web page.

C. Paper Submission

Submission of paper copies still requires the use of FastLane.
See the additional instructions in Appendix 1.

The original and ten (10) copies of the fully developed application
must be received by NSF no later than 5:00 P.M. EST on the closing
date, March 10, 1999.

All grant applications are initially screened by EPA and NSF to
determine their compliance with legal and administrative requirements.
Acceptable applications are then reviewed by an appropriate peer
review group. This review is designed to evaluate each proposal
according to its scientific and technical merit.

The NSF National Science Board approved revised criteria for evaluating
proposals submitted to NSF at its meeting on March 28, 1997
(NSB97-72). The revised criteria are designed to be useful and relevant
across NSF's many different programs; however, NSF will continue
to employ special criteria as required to highlight the specific
objectives of certain programs and activities. The
two revised merit review criteria are listed below. Following each
criterion are potential considerations that reviewers may employ
in the evaluation. These are suggestions and not all will apply
to any given proposal. Reviewers will address only those that
are relevant to the proposals and for which they are qualified to
make judgments.

In evaluating the responsiveness of proposals to the research needs
set forth in this announcement, the review group will consider:

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and
understanding within its own field or across different fields? How
well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the
project? (If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality
of prior work.) To what extent does the proposed activity suggest
and explore creative and original concepts? How well conceived and
organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to
resources?

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding
while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well
does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented
groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?
To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and
education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships?
Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and
technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed
activity to society?

Although budget information is not used by the reviewers as the
basis for their evaluation of scientific merit, the reviewers are
asked to provide their input on the appropriateness and/or adequacy
of the proposed budget and its implications for the potential success
of the proposed research. Input on requested equipment is of particular
interest.

B. Integration of Research and Education

One of the principal strategies in support of this programs goals
is to foster integration of research and education through the programs,
projects and activities it supports at academic and research institutions.
These institutions provide abundant opportunities where individuals
may concurrently assume responsibilities as researchers, educators,
and students and where all can engage in joint efforts that infuse
education with the excitement of discovery and enrich research through
the diversity of learner perspectives. PIs should address this issue
in their proposal to provide reviewers with the information necessary
to respond fully to both merit review criteria. Program staff will
give it careful consideration in making funding decisions.

C. Integrating Diversity into Program, Projects, and Activities

Broadening opportunities and enabling the participation of all
citizens -- women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons
with disabilities -- is essential to the health and vitality of
science and engineering. NSF and EPA are committed to this principle
of diversity and deems it central to the programs, projects, and
activities it considers and supports. PIs should address this issue
in their proposal to provide reviewers with the information necessary
to respond fully to both merit review criteria. Program staff will
give it careful consideration in making funding decisions.

D. Additional Review Requirements

Applications that receive high merit scores from the peer reviewers
are subjected to a programmatic review within EPA, the object being
to assure a balanced research portfolio for the Agency. Scientists
from the ORD Laboratories and EPA Program and Regional Offices review
these applications in relation to program priorities and their complementarity
to the ORD intramural program and recommend selections to NCER.

Copies of the evaluations by the technical reviewers will be provided
to each applicant. Funding decisions are the sole responsibility
of EPA and NSF. Grants are selected on the basis of technical merit,
relevancy to the research priorities outlined, program balance,
and budget.

5.2 Proprietary Information

By submitting an application in response to this announcement,
the applicant grants EPA and NSF permission to share the application
with technical reviewers both within and outside the Agencies. Applications
containing proprietary or other types of confidential information
will not be reviewed.

6.0 GRANT ADMINISTRATION

Upon conclusion of the review process, meritorious applications
may be recommended for funding by either EPA or NSF, at the option
of the agencies, not the applicant. Subsequent grant administration
procedures will be in accordance with the individual policies of
the awarding agency.

6.1 EPA Grant Administration

The funding mechanisms for all awards issued under this announcement
will consist of grant agreements between EPA and the recipient.
In accordance with Public Law 95-224, grants are used to accomplish
a public purpose of support or stimulation authorized by Federal
statute rather than acquisition for the direct benefit of the Agency.
In using a grant agreement, EPA anticipates that there will be no
substantial involvement during the course of the grant between the
recipient and the Agency.

EPA grants awarded as a result of this announcement will be administered
in accordance with 40 CFR Part 30 and 40 or the most recent FDP
terms and conditions, depending upon the grantee institution.

EPA provides awards for research in the sciences and engineering
related to environmental protection. The awardee is solely responsible
for the conduct of such activities and preparation of results for
publication. EPA, therefore, does not assume responsibility for
such findings or their interpretation.

6.2 NSF Grant Administration

NSF grants awarded as a result of this announcement will be administered
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the most recent NSF
GC-1, "Grant General Conditions," or the FDP-III, "Federal
Demonstration Partnership General Terms and Conditions," depending
on the grantee organization.

More comprehensive information on the administration of NSF grants
is contained in the Grant Policy Manual (NSF 95-26, July 1995),
Chapter II, available electronically on the NSF Web site. The GPM
is also for sale through the Superintendent of Documents, Government
Printing Office (GPO), Washington, D.C. 20402. The telephone number
at GPO is (202) 512-1800 for subscription information; the GPM can
also be ordered through the GPO Web site at http://www.gpo.gov.

Organizations applying to NSF for the first time, or which have
not received an NSF award within the preceding two years, should
refer to the NSF Grant Policy Manual, Section 500, for instructions
on specific information that may be requested by NSF. First time
NSF awardees will be required to submit organizational, management,
and financial information, including a certification of civil rights
compliance, before a grant can be made. One copy of the Grant Policy
Manual will be provided free of charge to new grantees.

For all multi-year grants (including both standard and continuing
grants), the PI must submit an annual project report to the cognizant
program officer at least 90 days before the end of each budget period.
Within 90 days after expiration of a grant, the PI must submit a
final project report. Approximately 30 days before expiration, NSF
will send a notice to remind the PI of the requirement. Failure
to provide final technical reports delays NSF review and processing
of pending proposals for that PI. PIs should examine the formats
of the required progress and final reports in advance, to assure
that they are keeping adequate data and records. Effective October
1, 1998, PIs are required to use the new formats for these reports,
and are strongly encouraged to submit their reports electronically
via FastLane. For those PIs who cannot access FastLane, paper copies
of the new formats may be obtained from the NSF Clearinghouse, 301-947-2722.
NSF expects to require electronic submission of all reports via
FastLane beginning in October 1999.

If you are submitting your proposal using paper copies rather than
electronically, you are required to submit the proposal cover
sheet and the project summary to NSF using FastLane. To access FastLane,
go to the NSF Web site at http://www.nsf.gov,
then select "FastLane," or go directly to FastLane (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov).

Instructions for the Principal Investigator (PI):

Contact your institutions Sponsored Research Office (SRO) for
a PIN number to gain access to the FastLane "Proposal
Preparation" module. If you have not submitted a proposal to
NSF in the past, you must contact your SRO to be added to the
NSF Principal Investigator (PI) database. Please do this as soon
as you decide to prepare an Environmental Statistics proposal.

As early as possible, enter your cover-sheet and project-summary
information using the FastLane "Proposal Preparation"
module. In the field labeled "Program Announcement" on
the cover sheet type in "NSF 99-40" exactly as shown, with
no additional spaces or characters. The Sorting Code must be
put in the section titled "For Consideration by NSF Organizational
Unit."

Click on the "Allow SRO Access" button. Contact your
SRO to inform it of your FastLane temporary proposal ID.
Allow time for your SRO to approve, copy and mail the proposal
to meet the deadline.

Instructions for the Sponsored Research Office (SRO):

Print the second page of the cover sheet in time to obtain the
required institutional signatures.

Before assembling the proposal for copying, submit the cover sheet
to NSF via Fastlane using the "Submit Proposal" function
within the "Institutional Management of FastLane" module.
This will generate a proposal number. Print a copy
of the cover sheet from FastLane; it will have the proposal number
on it. Substitute the first page of the cover sheet for the
one produced by the PI. Make copies of the proposal and
submit to NSF according to the usual procedures for a paper proposal.

For FY 1999, the paper copies of the proposal MUST be received
at NSF by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 10, 1999, in order to
be eligible. PIs and SROs should allow sufficient
time to be sure that all material will reach NSF in time. For
this competition only, you may direct questions concerning FastLane
or problems utilizing FastLane to kcrank@nsf.gov
or frabanal@nsf.gov.

The Foundation provides awards
for research and education in the sciences and engineering. The
awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of such research and
preparation of the results for publication. The Foundation, therefore,
does not assume responsibility for the research findings or their
interpretation.

The Foundation welcomes proposals from all qualified
scientists and engineers and strongly encourages women, minorities,
and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the research
and education related programs described here. In accordance with
federal statutes, regulations, and NSF policies, no person on grounds
of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be
excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be
subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving
financial assistance from the National Science Foundation.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers
with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance
or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators
and other staff, including student research assistants) to work
on NSF projects. See the program announcement or contact the program
coordinator at (703) 306-1636.

The National Science Foundation has TDD (Telephonic
Device for the Deaf) capability, which enables individuals with
hearing impairment to communicate with the Foundation about NSF
programs, employment, or general information. To access NSF TDD,
dial (703) 306-0090; for FIRS, 1-800-877-8339.

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS

The information requested on proposal forms and project
reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal
forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified
proposals; project reports submitted by awardees will be used for
program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and
to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified
reviewers and staff assistants as part of the application review
process; to applicant institutions/grantees to provide or obtain
data regarding the application review process, award decisions,
or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts,
volunteers and researchers as necessary to complete assigned work;
to other government agencies needing information as part of the
review process or in order to coordinate programs; and to another
Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative
proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal
Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select
potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee
members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal
File and Associated Records," 63 Federal Register 267 (January
5, 1998), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated
Records," 63 Federal Register 268 (January 5, 1998). Submission
of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete
information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an
award.

Public reporting burden for this collection of information
is estimated to average 120 hours per response, including the time
for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information,
including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Suzanne Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer; Information Dissemination Branch, DAS;
National Science Foundation; Arlington, VA 22230.